River Heritage Quilt Guild completes 1,000 dresses

President Vickie Howard started her presidential year with a challenge for the River Heritage Quilt Guild to make 200 little dresses for African girls by Sept. 30. The group had not only completed 1,000 dresses by Sept. 30, but also made 100 britches for boys and 200 necklaces. All the materials were donated by friends, family and guild members.

Vickie and her husband, David, delivered 600 dresses to Rachel O'Neill, founder of Little Dresses for Africa Organization in Michigan, the first week of October. O'Neill told them that they had just reached the 500,000 little dress count. Three hundred of the dresses were given to local Cape Girardeau churches for mission trips and 100 dresses were kept as "seed" for additional mission trips.

Those who would like to learn more or would like to donate cotton fabric, lace, ribbon, elastic or yarn may contact Howard at 335-3356 or 979-7739. To read more about the project, go to www.littledressesforafrica.org.